Abstract: Erasure detection and power control are performed for an intermittently active transport channel with unknown format. A receiver processes each received block and determines whether it passes or fails CRC. For each received block with CRC failure, the receiver performs erasure detection by computing a symbol error rate (SER) and energy of the received block, comparing the computed SER against an SER threshold, comparing the computed energy against an energy threshold, and declaring an erasure if the computed SER is less than the SER threshold and the computed energy exceeds the energy threshold. The SER and energy thresholds may be adjusted based on the average SER and the average energy for prior received blocks with CRC failures. For power control, an SIR target is increased by an UP step whenever an erased block is detected for the transport channel.

Abstract: The framer, also referred to as the scrambler/Reed-Solomon encoder (SRS), is a part of the transmitter and accepts user and control data in the form of one or more logical channels, partitions this data into frames, adds error correction codes, randomizes the data through a scrambler, and multiplexes logical channels into a single data stream. The multiplexed data is then passed to the constellation encoder as the next step in the formation of the VDSL symbol. The deframer, also referred as the descrambler/Reed-Solomon decoder (DRS), is part of the receiver and performs the inverse function of the framer.

Abstract: A wireless communication apparatus in a hierarchically coded modulation system can use error control mechanisms generated during decoding of base layer information to predict a probability of successful demodulation of enhancement layer information. Performance in the demodulation of the base layer correlates to performance in the demodulation of the enhancement layer. The receiver can determine whether to attempt demodulation of temporally correlated enhancement layer data based in part on the predicted probability of success. If the receiver determines not to demodulate the enhancement layer, the receiver can power down the enhancement layer demodulator, or otherwise minimize the power expended in the enhancement layer demodulator.

Abstract: A method a system for automatically controlling an adaptive interleaver involves monitoring performance parameters of a transmission system and controlling the adaptive interleaver in response to the performance parameters. The SNR and the data rate of the transmission system are preferably determined. The data rate is analyzed and the adaptive interleaver is adjusted in response to the data rate and the SNR. Alternatively, the BER and the data rate of the transmission system are determined. The data rate is analyzed and the adaptive interleaver is adjusted in response to the data rate and the BER. Alternatively, any one of the SNR, BER or data rate can alone be monitored and used to the adaptive interleaver. The system provides a effective system for adjusting an adaptive interleaver in response to performance parameters of a transmission system.

Abstract: A method a system for automatically controlling an adaptive interleaver involves monitoring performance parameters of a transmission system and controlling the adaptive interleaver in response to the performance parameters. The SNR and the data rate of the transmission system are preferably determined. The data rate is analyzed and the adaptive interleaver is adjusted in response to the data rate and the SNR. Alternatively, the BER and the data rate of the transmission system are determined. The data rate is analyzed and the adaptive interleaver is adjusted in response to the data rate and the BER. Alternatively, any one of the SNR, BER or data rate can alone be monitored and used to the adaptive interleaver. The system provides a effective system for adjusting an adaptive interleaver in response to performance parameters of a transmission system.

Abstract: Method for configuring a transmission chain in a 3GPP2 system for supporting a flexible or variable data rate of an information bitstream in a process for mapping an information bitstream of a data rate on a physical layer, including the steps of (1) channel coding the information bitstreams with bit rates different from each other into turbo codes or convolution codes having a value inverse of 1/coding rate, and (2) repeating coded bitstream when the channel coded bitstream is smaller than a desired interleaving size, and puncturing the coded bitstream when the channel coded bitstream is greater than the desired interleaving size, for matching the channel coded bitstream to the interleaving size.

Abstract: The invention proposes a method for controlling a variable of transmission between a mobile network element and a fixed network element, wherein the transmission is effected by repeatedly sending of data units, and a control of the variable of the transmission based on a target data unit error rate is performed, the method comprising the steps of detecting (S2), whether a received data unit includes an error, analyzing (S3), in case an error is detected, the transmission number of the data unit, detecting (S4), whether the analyzed diversity of the data unit is equal to a target transmission number, and forwarding (S5) the data unit to a network control element in case the transmission number of the data unit is equal to the target transmission number, or in case no error is detected. The invention also proposes a corresponding fixed network element and a corresponding network control element.

Abstract: In an interactive broadcasting system, television programming may be broadcast with interleaved web content information. The progress in broadcasting the web content information over one or more transports and over one or more channels within those transports, may be monitored to provide a time based indication of what content has been broadcast. In one embodiment, markers may be inserted into the data transmission flow and a method may be utilized to associate a handle with a particular marker. A method may be called which obtains the handle and another method may be utilized to invoke the handle to obtain current information about broadcast transmissions. This information may be used within a broadcast encoder or may be provided to a content provider, for example, through a log-in server.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for generating error indications are disclosed herein. In some cases, the error indication is used as an erasure pointer in a memory access system. As one particular example, a system for generating an erasure pointer is disclosed that includes accumulating a number of error values into an overall error value, and comparing the overall error value to an error threshold. When the overall error value exceeds the error threshold, an erasure pointer is generated. In one particular case, the error values are derived from a look up table using thermometer codes generated by an analog to digital converter. In other cases, the error values are derived from comparing a soft output with a reliability threshold.

Abstract: Presented herein are systems and methods for checking the integrity of data transmissions between or within one or more digital processing systems by identifying a data characteristic that is likely to change if there is an error in transmission. According to one embodiment, data messages are modified to achieve a selected characteristic according to a predetermined protocol, and changes to the data are recorded in a longitudinal check code (LCC) word, which is used by the receiver to decode the data message and restore the original data.

Abstract: The method allows to obtain, starting from an initial S-random interleaver permutation, stored in memory devices and having a spread S, a size K and a degree of parallelism M<K, and collision-free, an interleaver permutation having an increased size, which is also collision-free, by an expansion technique which is carried out by electronic processing devices connected to the memory devices. In each of the subsequent iteration, the initial interleaver permutation is added with M terms or elements which obey a predetermined condition, inserted in respective positions which satisfy a predetermined relationship. In each of said iterations, the choice of the values the M elements added to the permutation is made by means of a procedure which implements a predetermined optimisation criterion, adapted to maximise the spread value of the resulting interleaver permutation.

Abstract: The errors that may occur in transmitted numerical data on a channel affected by burst errors, are corrected via the operations of: ordering the numerical data in blocks each comprising a definite number of data packets; generating for each block a respective set of error-correction packets comprising a respective number of correction packets, the respective number identifying a level of redundancy for correcting the errors; and modifying dynamically the level of redundancy according to the characteristics of the bursts and of the correct-reception intervals between two bursts. Preferential application is on local networks, such as W-LANs for use in the domestic environments.

Abstract: A method for detecting an eventual channel intended to a designated user equipment among n channels received by the designated user equipment during a given duration, each channel received during the duration carrying encoded data masked with an identifier associated to a user equipment. The method includes a selecting phase having a demasking step demasking the received masked encoded data of each channel with the identifier of the designated user equipment, a decoding step decoding the demasked encoded data of each channel to obtain a set of digital decoded data for each channel, a calculating step calculating, from each set of digital decoded data, a global information representative of a confidence in digital data received on the physical channel, and a detecting step detecting the channel from all the global information.

Abstract: A method of adaptive error correction coding includes processing data during a connection between a transmitting entity and a receiving entity, where the data is processed in accordance with a predetermined coding scheme. More particularly, processing data includes encoding one or more sequences received by an error correction encoder of the transmitting entity, or decoding one or more block codes received by an error correction decoder of the receiving entity. During the connection, then, the method includes selecting or receiving a selection of feedback code information. Thus, during at least a portion of the connection, the data processing is switched to processing data in accordance with a parity-check coding technique based upon the feedback code information.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems are disclosed for block encoding/decoding information wireless networks having narrow decoding latency restrictions. A method includes identifying a length of information to be sent in a block code and encoding the information to be sent in the block code into one or more codewords, where the number of codewords and the amount of information encoded within each codeword is adjusted based on the identified length and to achieve a similar codeword error probability for each codeword considering available decoding time for decoding a last codeword is less than available decoding time for decoding a first codeword. In certain implementations low density parity check (LDPC) encoding may be used in combination with OFDM to provide reliable communications in a high throughput WLAN.

Abstract: A method for retransmitting coded bits by a transmitter in response to a retransmission request from a receiver in a mobile communication system. The method comprises determining a modulation technique to be used at retransmission as a modulation technique having a lower modulation order than a modulation technique used at initial transmission; determining a puncturing pattern according to an HARQ (Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request) type, and selecting as many coded bits as the number of coded bits that can be symbol-mapped by the determined modulation technique, among the coded bits punctured by the determined puncturing pattern; and symbol-mapping the selected coded bits by the determined modulation technique, and transmitting the symbol-mapped coded bits to the receiver.

Abstract: A method for retransmitting coded bits by a transmitter in response to a retransmission request from a receiver in a mobile communication system. The method comprises determining a modulation technique to be used at retransmission as a modulation technique having a lower modulation order than a modulation technique used at initial transmission; determining a puncturing pattern according to an HARQ (Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request) type, and selecting as many coded bits as the number of coded bits that can be symbol-mapped by the determined modulation technique, among the coded bits punctured by the determined puncturing pattern; and symbol-mapping the selected coded bits by the determined modulation technique, and transmitting the symbol-mapped coded bits to the receiver.

Abstract: An apparatus for error-correcting an input signal to generate an output signal. The apparatus includes an unreliable-location determining module for determining unreliable-locations of the input signal and generating an indication signal accordingly, a first error-correcting module for error-correcting the input signal to generate a first candidate signal, a second error-correcting module coupled to the unreliable-location determining module for error-correcting the input signal with reference to the indication signal to generate a second candidate signal, and a selecting module coupled to the first and second error-correcting modules for selecting one of the first and second candidate signals to be the output signal.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for generating parameters used in coding data in a data transmission system. The method determines a number of possible coding parameters to satisfy a target coding gain and selects the best set of parameters that balance the code word length and the error rate. In this manner, a minimum coding gain may be used, which minimizes cross-talk on a transmission link.

Abstract: In a forward error correction method and a forward error correction addition apparatus, error correction is performed on the basis of data, to which forward error correction code is added, transmitted through a network to output decoded data. The data transmitted through the network includes information bits represented by an information bit matrix with n rows and m columns (n, m are natural numbers), and redundancy bits represented by an odd number of redundancy information bit rows and an odd number of redundancy information bit columns based on the information bit matrix, which are provided in the row direction and in the column direction of the information bit matrix respectively. The redundancy bits are the forward error correction code.

Abstract: Significant improvement in Raptor codes and punctured LDPC codes are obtainable by use of the invention. In both a transmission scheme for Raptor-encoded or LDPC-encoded information, a dynamic adjustment approach is employed. A fraction of a codeword or information frame is transmitted. A feedback signal is sent from the receiver to the transmitter indicating either 1) successful decoding, or 2) failure to decode and/or a feedback signal indicative of a statistical measure of transmission channel quality. If decoding fails, a further portion of the codeword or frame is sent. The intensity and/or size of the fraction is adjusted based on the feedback signal. In one embodiment, a specific range for probabilities employed in the encoding process for Raptor codes provides the ability to increase transmission throughput. Further it has been found that the advantageous Raptor codes are useful in noise conditions where even the improved punctured LDPC codes of the invention begin to degrade.

Abstract: In a signal transmission medium such as an ac power line, impulse noise in the line may be dealt with by detecting impulse noise in the transmission medium, determining whether the impulse noise is periodic or complex, and, at least approximately, correlating the time at which periodic impulse noise occurs in the transmission medium to the phase of the ac power line frequency. One or more noise mitigation techniques may be applied with respect to the impulse noise. Methods also include predicting at least the approximate time of the next periodic noise impulse, and at least its approximate occurrence in the phase of the ac power line frequency. Methods also address impulse noise in complex impulse conditions.

Abstract: A transmitter generates error correction data according to an error correction scheme that logically arranges the communication data in a number of rows and a number of columns. The transmitter transmits the communication data and the error correction data. A receiver receives the communication data and the error correction data. The receiver processes the error correction data to correct errors in the communication data. The receiver generates information regarding the errors in the communication data. The transmitter processes the information to alter at the number of rows and/or the number of columns.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assigning automatic repeat request (ARQ)/hybrid-automatic repeat request (H-ARQ) processes in a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) to support enhanced uplink (EU) data transmissions. After parameters associated with the ARQ/H-ARQ processes are configured, the WTRU assigns an ARQ/H-ARQ process for selected data. After transmitting the data, the WTRU determines whether feedback information for the data has been received. The WTRU releases the ARQ/H-ARQ process if an acknowledgement (ACK) message has been received, and retransmits the data if a non-acknowledgement (NACK) message or no feedback information has been received in a predetermined time period while incrementing a transmission counter in the WTRU. When an ARQ/H-ARQ transmission limit has been reached, the WTRU may discard the data or reinitiate the transmission.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for adapting data in a communications system to be transmitted from a sender to a receiver, to a transport unit of a predefined size involve representing said data as a combination of bits over a finite field, wherein said data comprises of an information part and a control part; adapting said represented data to fit said predefined size of said transport unit, by expressing both said information and control parts with bits, wherein said bits are less in number that said represented combination of bits and a number of removed bits is known to said receiver, said removed bits comprise of bits from both said information and control parts.

Abstract: Data that are stored in cells of a multi-bit-per cell memory, according to a systematic or non-systematic ECC, are read and corrected (systematic ECC) or recovered (non-systematic ECC) in accordance with estimated probabilities that one or more of the read bits are erroneous. In one method of the present invention, the estimates are a priori. In another method of the present invention, the estimates are based only on aspects of the read bits that include significances or bit pages of the read bits. In a third method of the present invention, the estimates are based only on values of the read bits. Not all the estimates are equal.

Abstract: Provided are a method for controlling errors of an Internet fax data according to the statue of a network by using a receiver report (RR) message in a real-time transport control protocol (RTCP) and a gateway to which the method is applied. Therefore, transmission errors are reduced and a transmission speed of a fax data is improved in transmitting a fax data over the Internet. The provided method includes receiving a T.38 fax data for analyzing a predetermined QoS motoring data of the T.38 fax data and generating status information, transmitting the status information to a gateway which has transmitted the T.38 fax data, receiving the status information for analyzing a packet loss of the transmitted T.38 fax data based on the status information, and increasing or decreasing a secondary message sequence length based on an analysis result. The provided method can control errors of a T.38 packet in real time, according to the status of a network, in transmitting a T.38 fax data over the Internet.

Abstract: Method for configuring a transmission chain in a 3GPP2 system for supporting a flexible or variable data rate of an information bitstream in a process for mapping an information bitstream of a data rate on a physical layer, including the steps of (1) channel coding the information bitstreams with bit rates different from each other into turbo codes or convolution codes having a value inverse of 1/coding rate, and (2) repeating coded bitstream when the channel coded bitstream is smaller than a desired interleaving size, and puncturing the coded bitstream when the channel coded bitstream is greater than the desired interleaving size, for matching the channel coded bitstream to the interleaving size.

Abstract: A system for selecting a modulation scheme and an error correction coding scheme for each subchannel in an OFDM system based on the energy detected on that subchannel.

Abstract: LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) code size adjustment by shortening and puncturing. A variety of LDPC coded signals may be generated from an initial LDPC code using selected shortening and puncturing. Using LDPC code size adjustment approach, a single communication device whose hardware design is capable of processing the original LDPC code is also capable to process the various other LDPC codes constructed from the original LDPC code after undergoing appropriate shortening and puncturing. This provides significant design simplification and reduction in complexity because the same hardware can be implemented to accommodate the various LDPC codes generated from the original LDPC code. Therefore, a multi-LDPC code capable communication device can be implemented that is capable to process several of the generated LDPC codes. This approach allows for great flexibility in the LDPC code design, in that, the original code rate can be maintained after performing the shortening and puncturing.

Abstract: A communication network comprising a plurality of border controllers, a first packet voice network, a second packet voice network coupled to the first packet network by the plurality of border controllers, and a master border controller coupled to the plurality of border controllers and coupled to the first packet voice network and the second packet voice network. The master border controller, responsive to receiving a plurality of update messages from the plurality of border controllers, processes the update messages to determine the operational states of the plurality of border controllers.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for processing a data packet in an interpartition virtual network in the logical partitioned data processing system. A state of a first flag and a state of a second flag is identified in the data packet, in response to receiving the data packet at a first partition in the interpartition virtual network from a second partition in the interpartition virtual network in the logical partitioned data processing system. A checksum is selectively verified for the data packet based on the state of the first flag and the state of the second flag.

Abstract: A method for transferring and correcting communication data is provided. The communication data include data frames, wherein each data frame includes data packets logically arranged in a number of rows and columns. Each data frame also includes error correction packets associated with the data packets. The error correction packets are generated according to an error correction scheme based on the number of rows and columns. The data frames are transmitted and received. The error correction packets are processed to correct errors in the data packets. Information regarding the errors in the data packets is generated. This information is processed to alter at least one of the number of rows and the number of columns.

Abstract: A QoS information identification unit receives a packet to be transmitted and based on QoS information, identifies the QoS type of the packet, and outputs the obtained QoS type to an adaptive wireless parameter controller as requested QoS information. The adaptive wireless parameter controller adaptively defines a retransmission parameter, an encoding scheme and a modulation scheme, based on the requested QoS information received from the QoS information identification unit, observed QoS information at the receiving side notified from the receiving side, and transmission path information. A transmission sequencing controller performs retransmission control for the packet based on the retransmission parameter defined therebefore. A data encoder encodes the packet based on the encoding scheme defined therebefore. A data modulator modulates the packet based on the modulation scheme defined therebefore.

Abstract: A method for calculating equal error protection (EEP) profiles is disclosed. The method uses a profile function related to a sub-channel size to calculate EEP profiles and then uses the EEP profiles to decode data. When a receiver receives a protection level and a size value of the sub-channel size, a corresponding sub-channel size can be rapidly obtained through a reference table of the protection level and the sub-channel size so as to calculate the required EEP profiles. The method in the present invention requires only a few adders/subtractors and shifters or an easily realizable multiplier to calculate the profiles so that the objective of effectively saving cost and rapidly obtaining the profiles is achieved.

Abstract: A system and method for encoding information is disclosed. In one embodiment, information is encoded using a high protection code for the least significant bit and a low protection code for the next three most significant bits. The remaining bits are uncoded. The high protection code may be a turbo code and the low protection code may be a trellis coded modulation code. In this embodiment, the collection of bits is then mapped according to a diagonally shifted QAM constellation technique.

Abstract: A method and corresponding codec for (channel) encoding speech or other data bits for transmission via a wireless communication channel, the method providing unequal error protection (UEP) using only a single encoder, and including: a step of determining how many bits to puncture in each of typically two protection classes (CA CB) so as to achieve either a predetermined or iterated desired level of error protection; and a step of identifying which bits to puncture for each class so as to provide relatively strong and uniform protection for all bits in the first class (CA), but protection that decreases in the same manner as the subjective importance decreases from the beginning to the end of the other classes. The method also accounts for so-called soft puncturing by modulators transmitting multiple bits per symbol with weaker protection for some of the bits of each symbol.

Abstract: A synchronous semiconductor memory which performs a pipeline operation includes an error correction circuit, an output circuit, and first and second write circuits. The first write circuit is configured to overwrite at least a portion of externally input write data on data read out from a memory cell and corrected by the error correction circuit, and write the overwritten data in the memory cell. The output circuit is configured to output the overwritten data outside a chip. The second write circuit is configured to reoverwrite at least a portion of write data which is externally input at a different time on the overwritten data, encode the reoverwritten data, and write the encoded data in the memory cell.

Abstract: A system and method for efficiently detecting and correcting transmission errors in packet-based communications by using cumulative error detection codes. The system may comprise a transmitting unit, which transmits one or more data packets. Each of the transmitted packets may comprise a plurality of transmission subunits. The transmitting unit preferably generates a cumulative error detection code (e.g., cumulative CRC code) for each of the transmission subunits of a packet. The system may further comprise a receiving unit to receive each of the transmission subunits of the packet. The receiving unit preferably generates a new cumulative error detection code for each of the received transmission subunits. The new cumulative error detection code is compared to the received cumulative error detection code to determine if any errors occurred in the transmission of the transmission subunit.

Abstract: A system and method, associated with a receiver, for increasing the range or bandwidth of a wireless digital communication network and a receiver incorporating the system or the method. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a service class detector configured to determine a service class of a PDU received by the receiver from the wireless digital communication network and (2) a frame check sequence checker coupled to the service class detector and configured to disregard error-checking information in the PDU when the service class indicates that the PDU is a streaming media PDU.

Abstract: In an integrated digital circuit, at least one derived data signal is generated from a data signal that is to be transmitted via a line of the digital circuit, by inverting at least two bits of the data signal. The circuit is also provided with an evaluation unit for evaluating the susceptibility of the data signal and the derived data signal, or of derived data signals to interference caused by a capacitive coupling of the line to at least one neighboring line.

Abstract: The present invention provides procedures for computing Forward Error Correction (FEC) parameters given a set of constraints on maximum interleaver memory, maximum interleaver depth, maximum codeword size, maximum number of check bytes, maximum number of FEC codewords per Discrete Multi-Tone (DMT) symbol, and minimum number of DMT symbols that the FEC must correct, as well as any constraints imposed by the interleaver. These procedures are implemented on a computational engine in a modem, enabling it to achieve optimal performance in all cases. In addition these procedures can be applied as part of any bit loading algorithm to determine the optimal FEC parameters, taking into account the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) profile, the FEC coding gain, the constraints of the framer, and any application specific constraints.

Abstract: A device for decoding an incident FEC encoded packet of data within an ARQ scheme. The device includes a processor or processing means for performing successive decoding processes of successive intermediate FEC code encoded packets related to the incident FEC code encoded packet. The processor or processing means includes a FEC decoder. The processor or processing means included a determination unit or determination means for determining initial decoding conditions from the FEC code decoding result concerning the preceding intermediate FEC code encoded packet and from the current intermediate FEC code encoded packet, and the FEC decoder is for performing the current FEC code decoding using the initial decoding conditions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing, using smaller, more efficient shared logic circuitry, the parity checking function and the compare function in a mutually exclusive manner in different cycles of a ternary content addressable memory are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for detection of rate determination algorithm errors in variable rate communications system receivers. The disclosed embodiments prevent rate determination algorithm errors from causing audible artifacts such as screeches or beeps. The disclosed system and method detects frames with incorrectly determined data rates and performs frame erasure processing and/or memory state clean up to prevent propagation of distortion across multiple frames. Frames with incorrectly determined data rates are detected by checking illegal rate transitions, reserved bits, validating unused filter type bit combinations and analyzing relationships between fixed code-book gains and linear prediction coefficient gains.

Abstract: A data communication system has a plurality of communication transceivers respectively coupled to a plurality of communication lines and is configured to receive payload symbols and parity symbols. The system further has logic configured to transition from non-erasure decoding to erasure decoding based on a measured communication performance of one of the communication lines coupled to one of the plurality of transceivers.

Abstract: An error correction encoder inserts redundant parity information into a data stream to improve system reliability. The encoder can generate the redundant parity information using a composite code. Dummy bits are inserted into the data stream in locations reserved for parity information generated by subsequent encoding. The error correction code can have a uniform or a non-uniform span. The span corresponds to consecutive channel bits that are within a single block of a smaller parity code that is used to form a composite code. The span lengths can be variant across the whole codeword by inserting dummy bits in less than all of the spans.

Abstract: An apparatus for transmitting a FEC frame is provided. In order to correct an error caused by a transmission medium using FEC in a Reed-Solomon code type, FEC encoding/decoding of a frame is performed. A total transmission delay time is not influenced when FEC is bypassed, a delay caused by a shortened codeword is minimized, and a FEC encoding/decoding delays for frames having different lengths are equalized.

Abstract: A convolutional interleaving and de-interleaving circuit and the method thereof are provided. The convolutional interleaving and de-interleaving circuit includes an initial address generator, a first address generator, a second address generator, an address mixer, an adder, a controller and a memory. Wherein, the controller enables those address generators to provide or store corresponding channel addresses. Further, an adder is shared and memory addresses are appropriately arranged so as to reduce the requirement of registers. Accordingly, the required gate count and the chip layout area can be reduced.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for dynamically configuring a redundant area of a physical page are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for dynamically configuring a redundant area of a page associated with a physical block of a non-volatile memory of a memory system includes determining when at least one byte associated with the redundant area is to be altered. The byte includes error correction code (ECC) information associated with a first ECC algorithm at the time of the determination. The method also includes altering the byte when it is determined that the byte is to be altered. Altering the byte includes altering the byte to include ECC information associated with a second ECC algorithm.